Life buoy and raft.



L. OLSON.

LIFE BUOY AND RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED rma. 14, 190e.

Patented Oct. 20,1908.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14, 1908.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS OLSON, OF AIRLIE, MINNESOTA.

LIFE BUOY AND RAFT.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS OLsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Airlie, in the county of Pipestone and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life Buoys and Rafts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in life buoys and rafts, and it hasfor its object the production of a life-saving device of such character as will possess the maximum of buoyancy and supporting power with the minimum of weight.

A further object of my invention is the making of such a structure as will be at all times ready for `immediate use, and which, by reason of its lightness, can be easily handled and thrown into the water.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means whereby two ofthe buoys can be quickly secured together, thereby increasing their area and supporting capacity and making a practical life raft.

lVith these objects in view my invention consists of the various details of construction and arrangement of parts which shall be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part of this application, Figure l is a perspective view; .F ig. 2 a transverse section; Fig. 3 a horizontal section on line a" of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a detail plan view, partially broken away, showing the interior structure, and F ig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the connecting together of two buoys to form a life raft.

The buoy is preferably made of circular or ring form.

1 designates a series of cylinders forming iioats made in segments of a circle. These floats are constructed of thin sheet-metal or other material of suicient strength and are filled with air. end, and form when so disposed, a circular structure. Each of said Iioats is made independent of the other and they are packed between their meeting ends'with a packing 2 of cotton. or other soft material which acts as a cushion. Each float is covered with canvas or other suitable material painted to render the same waterproof. While I have shown the employment of four of these floats, yet a greater or less number may be employed as may be found desirable.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 14, 1908.

They are arranged end to .Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Serial No. 415,852.

Over the floats 1 there is placed a skeleton frame 2, consisting of a coiled spring made from steel wire of a good quality and of a size in accordance with the size of the ring desired. The ends of this spring are securely fastened together by welding or other suitable means. The space between the floats l and the inclosing spring 2 is also packed with cotton or similar soft material to keep the floats in place and to cushion the surface of the structure.

Over the spring 2 is a netting 3 woven in and out between the several coils thereof and assisting to hold such coils in place. INithin the spring 2 and at the inner and outer circumference of the structure there are placed hoops `4, 4 made of hard wood, the same cooperating with similar hoops 5, 5 placed outside of the spring and presently to be described. Over the circular structure thus constructed there is placed a covering 6 of canvas, secured in place by sewing or other suitable means, and painted to render it waterproof. v

Wooden hoops 5, 5 are placed on the outside of the structure one within the smaller circle on the outside of the inner circle thereof, and the other encircling the outer periphery of the buoy. These hoops are so placed that they are over the respective hoops 4, 4 on the inside of the spring 2, and the coils of such spring are securely bound between the same. This registering position of each set of the hoops enables them to be secured together, thus securing the several parts of the structure firmly in place.

The buoy is provided with a netting 8 covering the central opening therein, and with life lines 9.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a means by which two buoys constructed in accordance with my invention are connected together to form a life raft of greater area and increased supporting power. A second ring-shaped structure l() is placed over a similarly constructed smaller buoy l1 and quickly connected there to by hooks or other suitable means, whereby a structure of greater weight supporting capacity and increased area is provided, and one capable of use in the saving of a number of lives.

The edges of the canvas covering 6 are brought together beneath the outer hoop 5, and thus securely held in place. All of the ropes, netting and canvas coverings are waterproof and preserve them from deterioration by the action of the salt water. K

I have thus produced a structure which is at all times in condition for the performance of the function for which it is designed, the cylinders or floats I having been once filled with air and placed in position in the structure and covered as described, requiring no further attention.

The structure as thus made possesses great buoyancy i-n the water and is of such weight as to render it susceptible of quick handling in time of danger.

Vhile I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, yet I do not wish to be limited thereto, as various changes may be made in the details of construction without material departure from the spirit thereof.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a series of air containing metal cylinders forming floats, of an inclosing frame therefor consisting of a coiled metallic spring, as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a series of air containing floats, of an inclosing frame therefor consisting` of a coiled spring inclosing the same, cushioning packing between the ends of said floats and between the floats and spring, and hoops securing the structure together, as set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a series of floats, of

' an inclosing frame therefor consisting of av coiled metallic spring, a netting over said spring, and hoops arranged in pairs within and without said spring, the adjacent inner and cuter hoops of each pair being secured together, whereby the coils of the spring are held between the same, as set forth.

4. The combination with a life buoy comprising a circular or ring-shaped structure formed of a series of floats, a metal skeletonframing therefor, hoops securing the structure in place, of a second buoy constructed in accordance with said first buoy and of a size suliicient to encircle the same when placed thereover and connected thereto, thereby forming a structure of greater area and weight sustaining capacity, as set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a series of floats, of an inclosing frame therefor consisting of a coiled metallic spring, a netting over said spring, a waterproof covering inclosing the structure, a hoop on the outer periphery of the structure and over said covering, a netting within the central space of the structure, and life lines attached to the structure, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, LOUIS GLSON.

Witnesses R. W. ASHTON, M. S. CRAIG. 

